Yoshihito Nishioka has risen to become Japan's top male tennis player over the past decade, but even the best sports stars can sometimes lose control of their emotions when things don't go their way.
Nishioka faced Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in the round of 32 of the Cincinnati Open on August 15. Nishioka was ahead at the start, but Hurkacz came from behind in the second set to give the Japanese star a hard time.
As Hurkacz increased his lead and came closer to victory, Nishioka's anger took over and he began throwing balls into the crowd in a fit of rage. The chair umpire called a rule violation for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a one-point penalty, and Hurkacz went into the next game leading 15–0. Once again angry, Nishioka threw another ball into the stands, resulting in a one-match penalty for ball abuse. In the end, Hurkacz won the final set 6–1.
Nishioka's emotions may have gotten the better of him and he may have regretted his actions after everything happened.
“I've had a lot of support here in the United States and in my own country as well,” Nishioka said. Tennis Magazine after the match. “I achieved a good result here, I won [Serbia’s Miomir] Kecmanović is a great player. I played well against Hubi. [Hurkacz] “I had a good performance in our first match but I fell off a bit in the third set.”
Finally, she vows to be better when she takes part in the US Open in New York later this month.
“I'm very sorry to my fans,” he said. “I played my best tennis until the second set and then I couldn't. I hope I'll have some luck at the US Open. I think my tennis feeling is getting better every day. I need to take better care of my body and prepare for the US Open. I think I can play good tennis there.”
The 2024 US Open begins on August 26.